Convertible chair

Abstract

Convertible chairs that can be converted to and from an open chair configuration to a box or table configuration for storage and protection of the interior portions is provided. The convertible chairs can have include one or more of a sunshade, adjustable foot rest, legs, wheels, and can in some embodiments be a reclining chair. In some aspects, a cover portion can be used to cover a portion of the interior portions of the chair when the convertible chair is in a box configuration, and be folded and retracted into a pocket of the convertible chair when in an open chair configuration.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A convertible chair, comprising:
 a first side portion; 
 a second side portion; 
 a seat portion extending between the first side portion and the second side portion; 
 a back portion extending between the first side portion and the second side portion; 
 a top portion hingedly coupled to the back portion on a first edge and hingedly coupled to a front portion on a second edge; and 
 wherein the convertible chair is configured to convert from a closed box configuration to an open chair configuration. 
 
     
     
       2. The convertible chair of  claim 1 , wherein the back portion comprises a pocket sized and dimensioned to receive at least a portion of the top portion. 
     
     
       3. The convertible chair of  claim 2 , wherein the pocket is sized and dimensioned to receive at least a portion of the front portion. 
     
     
       4. The convertible chair of  claim 3 , wherein the pocket is sized and dimensioned to receive the entire top portion and front portion. 
     
     
       5. The convertible chair of  claim 2 , wherein the pocket houses a retraction and deployment mechanism comprising two parallel rack and pinion pairs operatively coupled to one another through a synchronizing axle. 
     
     
       6. The convertible chair of  claim 1 , further comprising a set of legs extending downwardly from a bottom portion. 
     
     
       7. The convertible chair of  claim 6 , wherein each leg of the set of legs comprises at least one of a wheel and a caster. 
     
     
       8. The convertible chair of  claim 1 , wherein the back portion is configured to recline from a first configuration wherein the back portion and the seat portion form an angle of about 90 degrees to a second configuration wherein the back portion and the seat portion form an angle of between 115-180 degrees. 
     
     
       9. The convertible chair of  claim 8 , wherein the seat portion is coupled to an adjustable foot rest. 
     
     
       10. The convertible chair of  claim 1 , further comprising a foot rest and a recliner frame coupled to each of the foot rest and the back portion such that an adjustment of the back portion causes an adjustment of the foot rest. 
     
     
       11. The convertible chair of  claim 1 , wherein the top portion and front portion are adjustable from a box configuration to a folded configuration to a sunshade configuration. 
     
     
       12. The convertible chair of  claim 11 , wherein the top portion and front portion are side by side and parallel in the folded configuration, wherein the top portion and the front portion form an angle of between 45 and 170 degrees and the top portion and the back portion form an angle of between 120 and 225 degrees in the sunshade configuration, and wherein the top portion forms an angle of about 90 degrees with each of the back portion and the front portion in the box configuration. 
     
     
       13. The convertible chair of  claim 1 , wherein the first side portion comprises a first upper armrest panel that is hingedly coupled to a first side wall portion, and wherein the first upper armrest panel is adjustable about 180 degrees from a closed configuration to an open configuration. 
     
     
       14. The convertible chair of  claim 1 , further comprising a set of magnets that help maintain the convertible chair in a selected configuration. 
     
     
       15. The convertible chair of  claim 14 , wherein the set of magnets are positioned within the first and second side portions and the front portion and help maintain the convertible chair in the closed box configuration. 
     
     
       16. The convertible chair of  claim 14 , wherein the first side portion comprises a first upper armrest panel that is hingedly coupled to a first side wall portion, and wherein the first upper armrest panel is adjustable about 180 degrees from a closed configuration to an open configuration, and wherein the set of magnets help maintain the first upper armrest panel in the closed configuration. 
     
     
       17. A convertible chair, comprising:
 a first side portion; 
 a second side portion; 
 a seat portion extending between the first side portion and the second side portion; 
 a back portion extending between the first side portion and the second side portion, and comprising a pocket; 
 a cover portion hingedly coupled to the back portion and configured to be retracted into and extended out of the pocket; and 
 wherein the convertible chair is configured to convert from a closed box configuration to an open chair configuration. 
 
     
     
       18. A convertible chair, comprising:
 a first side portion; 
 a second side portion; 
 a seat portion extending between the first side portion and the second side portion; 
 a back portion extending between the first side portion and the second side portion; 
 a cover portion coupled to the back portion via a first hinge, wherein the cover portion comprises a front portion and a top portion that are coupled to one another via a second hinge, and wherein at least one of the first hinge and the second hinge comprises a torque hinge; and 
 wherein the convertible chair is configured to convert from a closed box configuration to an open chair configuration.